Pune: The attack on Sutardara road lasted less than a minute, and most of it is on camera.
Prakash alias Lalya Yewale, 27, was riding pillion on a scooter with two others on Saturday night when a group of three to four men stopped them. According to the police account, the men pulled the three down and attacked Yewale with a sword, a sickle, iron weapons and wooden sticks. The sickle was his own, taken from him in the scuffle.
Kothrud police, on patrol in the area, reached the spot and took him to hospital. Doctors declared him dead before treatment.
Yewale was a history-sheeter with several cases against him, including eight relating to physical offences. Assistant Commissioner of Police (Kothrud division) Sujata Tanawade said both Yewale and those accused of killing him were history-sheeters with multiple cases registered against them.
The complaint was filed by Abhijit Ghare, a companion who was with him. Kothrud police registered a murder case against three men. Akshay Sathe, 30, was picked up first, followed by Vicky More, 26, and Aniket Malpote, 21, on Sunday. All three were produced before a court and remanded to five days of police custody.
The police's working account of the motive is an argument earlier the same day, said to have arisen over a Ganesh pandal, in which Yewale allegedly abused and threatened the men. Investigators have said the attack was planned after that quarrel.
Police have not disclosed the sections applied, saying the wider network and past criminal links are still being examined. Whether the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act is invoked will be a decision taken as the probe proceeds.
CCTV footage of the attack has been circulating on social media since Sunday, which is how most of the city learned of the case.
Two men described as part of the group are still at large, and the Kothrud police are looking for them.